Mop, and method for the production of a mopping cover for the mop

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method for producing a mopping cover ( 1 ) for a mop ( 2 ) comprising a support ( 3 ) and the mopping cover ( 1 ) which at least partly encloses the support ( 3 ). Said support ( 3 ) is provided with triangular faces ( 6, 7 ) that extend away from each other like arrows on two opposite sides ( 4, 5 ) and are disposed in congruent, triangular insertion pockets ( 8, 9 ) of the mopping cover when properly using the mop ( 2 ). The imaginary extensions of the lateral lines ( 10, 11; 12, 13 ) of the faces ( 6, 7 ) and the insertion pockets ( 8, 9 ) are arranged essentially perpendicular to each other while angularly intersecting each other, respectively. The insertion pockets ( 8, 9 ) are formed by the mopping cover ( 1 ), are embodied as a single piece, and are made of the same material as the mopping cover ( 1 ). Each of the insertion pockets ( 8, 9 ) encompasses only one seam ( 14, 15 ) for forming the insertion pockets ( 8, 9 ), said seam extending in a vertical direction from the tip ( 16, 17 ) located on the face to the respective ground line ( 18, 19 ) thereof. In a first step of the inventive method, a rectangular planar structure ( 20 ) that substantially corresponds to the width and length of the support ( 3 ) is folded along half the width ( 22 ) thereof in the longitudinal direction ( 21 ). In a second step, the superimposed faces ( 24, 25; 26 27 ) that represent half the width and are disposed perpendicular to the folding line ( 23 ) are connected to each other on the faces. In another step, the fold ( 28 ) is folded open so as to create a planar mopping surface ( 29 ), the insertion pockets ( 8, 9 ) being automatically created when the fold ( 28 ) is folded open.

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention concerns a method for the production of a wiper cover for a wiper.

STATE OF THE ART

Such a method is known, for example, from DE 198 23 044 C1. The wiper cover consists of a rectangular base material and has insertion pockets to hold a clamping frame, wherein the insertion pockets are formed from a cover material fastened to the base material at the ends of the base. The previously known method for the production of the wiper cover is not very satisfactory with regard to manufacturing technology or economy, since in addition to the rectangular base material, two parts of the cover material must be produced, cut out, and then joined to the base material.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The problem of the invention is to further develop a method of the initially mentioned type, in such a way that it can be carried out simply and at low cost. Furthermore, the wiper cover is to be produced in such a way that it makes possible efficient cleaning in corners.

This problem is solved, in accordance with the method, by a method with the features of claim 1. The claims which refer to claim 1, directly or indirectly, reference an advantageous refinement of the method.

To solve the problem, a method is provided for the manufacture of a wiper cover for a wiper, comprising a carrier and the wiper cover, which at least partially encloses the carrier, wherein the carrier has triangular front sides, which point away from one another, in the shape of arrows, on two opposing sides, which are arranged in congruently shaped, triangular insertion pockets of the wiper cover during use of the wiper, wherein the imaginary prolongations of the side lines of the front sides and the insertion pockets are arranged essentially at right angles to one another and intersect at an angle with respect to one another, wherein the insertion pockets are formed by the wiper cover itself and are integrally formed from the same material, and wherein each of the insertion pockets has only one seam for the formation of the insertion pockets, which extends perpendicularly with respect to their individual base line, from their individual front tips, wherein in a first process step, a planar, rectangular, sheet-like article, corresponding essentially to the width and length of the carrier, is folded in the longitudinal direction, along half its width, wherein in a second process step, the front sides, arranged at right angles to the fold line and lying one on the other, are connected together at the ends, and wherein in another process step, the fold is opened to produce a planar wiping area, whereby upon unfolding the fold, the insertion pockets form automatically.

It is advantageous that the manufacture of the wiper cover is particularly simple and inexpensive. For the rectangular sheet-like article, web materials are usually used, which are cut to length in accordance with the required width of the wiper cover. A decisive advantage of the claimed method is to be found in that in spite of the arrow-shaped, triangular front sides of the ready-to-use wiper cover, pointing away from one another, a rectangular sheet-like article is sufficient for its production and that no cutting is required for the manufacture of the wiper cover. The utilization of the material is therefore particularly good.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the insertion pockets of the wiper cover are closed in the previously described form by a single straight seam and that the insertion pockets are converted automatically into the ready-to-use form, according to the second and other process steps, by unfolding the fold.

The front sides can be sewn, welded, or glued together in the second process step. Sewing of the front sides can be carried out simply and inexpensively, so that the front sides are reliably connected to one another during the entire period of use of the wiper cover. Welding is a particularly inexpensive method of production, but assumes a sufficiently high content of material in the wiper cover that can be thermally softened, for example, thermoplastic fibers. Gluing is also an economical method for the production of the seams, particularly hot gluing. The material that can be thermally softened, for this purpose, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene, is supplied from a secondary source, and is activated by a temporary thermal liquefaction and solidifies upon subsequent cooling. The technique is known from other fields.

Other joining techniques can also be used, for example, gluing or welding of the front sides, if the material of which the sheet-like article is made permits this on a long-term basis.

The manufacture of the wiper cover is particularly simple if the sheet-like article is folded in the first process step in such a way that the wiping area of the wiper cover is located on the outside. After the joining of the front sides of half width, which are arranged at right angles to the fold line and lie one on the other, only the fold must still be unfolded. The insertion pockets are produced automatically while unfolding the fold. The seam is visible on the outside when the wiper cover is attached to the carrier.

If a visible seam is not desired for aesthetic reasons, for example when the wiper cover is attached to the carrier, the sheet-like article can be folded in the first process step in such a way that the wiping area is arranged on the inside. Following the second process step, the wiping area is then turned toward the outside from the inside in the next process step. In the subsequent unfolding of the fold, the insertion pockets are produced automatically, wherein the seam is covered—that is, arranged lying toward the inside and is shown in the direction of the carrier.

With the claimed method, it is possible to produce, simply and economically, a hexagonal wiper cover that is rectangular-shaped in the area of its front sides, with which a particularly efficient cleaning in corners is made possible.

Furthermore, the invention concerns a wiper.

A wiper is, for example, known from DE 198 23 044 C1. The wiper comprises a rectangular carrier and a correspondingly shaped wiper cover, which is made of an essentially rectangular base material. The insertion pockets are limited to the side of the base material facing the wiping area and to the side of a cover material turned away from the wiping area, wherein the base material and the cover material are joined with one another to form the insertion pockets. Due to the two-part model of the insertion pockets, the wiper is not very satisfactory with respect to production technology and economy.

The problem of the invention is to further develop a wiper of the previously known kind in such a way that it can be produced simply and at low cost and that the form of the wiping area is more suitable for cleaning places difficult to access also.

This problem is solved, in accordance with the invention, with the features of claim 6. The subordinate claims that refer directly or indirectly to claim 6 make reference to advantageous developments.

To attain the goal, a wiper is provided, comprising a carrier and a wiper cover that encloses the carrier, at least partially, wherein the carrier has triangular front sides that point away from one another in the shape of arrows on two sides opposite one another, and which are arranged in congruently shaped, triangular insertion pockets during use of the wiper, wherein the imaginary prolongations of the side lines of the front sides and the insertion pockets are arranged essentially at right angles to one another and intersecting angularly with respect to one another, wherein the insertion pockets are formed by the wiper cover itself and are integrally formed with it from the same material, and wherein each of the insertion pockets has only one seam for the formation of the insertion pockets, which extends from their individual front tip, perpendicular to their individual base line.

In spite of the hexagonal form of the carrier and wiper cover, which differs from the rectangular-tetragonal form, and wherein the two sides opposite one another have triangular front sides pointing away from one another in the form of arrows, the insertion pockets are formed by the wiper cover itself and are integrally formed with it of the same material. The expense for the production of the wiper cover is minimized by the presence of only one seam, which closes each pocket and extends from the individual front tip, perpendicular to the individual base line.

The boundary of the wiper cover can be covered, at least partially, by a hem. A fraying of the boundary is prevented in this way and, particularly if the wiper cover is made of a highly fuzzy material, it is clearly defined in size and form by the hem. The installing of the wiper cover on the carrier is simplified for the user in this way.

The seams can be covered by a protective strip on the side turned away from the carrier. In this way, the seam is protected from external influences which reduce the service life. Furthermore, the uncovered seam, visible from the outside, can be covered by the protective strip, so that a surface without protuberances is produced and an aesthetic appearance is imparted.

The carrier can be shaped as a wiping frame and comprise two clamping wings, which are locked during use, wherein at least one of the clamping wings can be folded for the installing/removing of the wiper cover. One of the clamping wings can, for example, be folded downwards at right angles with reference to the other clamping wing, in order to be able to mount both clamping wings in the insertion pockets/remove them from the insertion pockets.

The carrier can, for example, be made of a polymeric material. The carrier is then rust-free and has only a comparatively small mass for better handling. As is generally known, the carrier can be connected to a handle, the carrier and the handle being connected, for example, by a cardan joint. Especially in connection with the triangular fronts of the carrier and the wiper cover, which point away from one another in the form of arrows, even hard-to-access surfaces can be easily cleaned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The method of the invention for the production of a wiper cover and an embodiment of the wiper of the invention are explained in more detail below, with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 5. The figures show the following, in schematic representation:

In FIG. 1, the carrier of the wiper in a top view;

FIG. 2a, the rectangular sheet-like article at the beginning of the first process step;

FIG. 2b, the wiper cover following the second process step in a front view;

FIG. 2c, the wiper cover from FIG. 2b, with a wiping surface, turned from the inside to the outside;

FIG. 3a, the wiper cover from FIG. 2c, in a ready-to-use form in a view from the top;

FIG. 3b, the wiper cover from FIG. 3a with a protective strip over the seam;

FIG. 4, the wiper cover from FIG. 3a, in a view from below;

FIG. 5, the wiper with a wiper cover positioned onto the carrier.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the carrier 3 of wiper 2 in a top view. The carrier 3 is shaped as a wiper frame 34 and comprises two clamping wings 35, 36 which, as also shown in FIG. 5, can be locked in the position shown here. The locking of the clamping wings 35, 36 can be actuated by the closure 37. To install/remove wiper cover 1, closure 37 is actuated and one of the two clamping wings 35, 36 is folded relative to the other clamping wings 36, 35, around the axis 38, which extends downwards transverse to the longitudinal direction 21, essentially at a right angle.

The carrier 3 has triangular front slides 6, 7, that point away from one another in the form of arrows on its opposing two sides 4, 5, opposite one another, which are arranged in the congruently shaped, triangular insertion pockets 8, 9 of the wiper cover during use of the wiper 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

The carrier 3 consists of a polymeric material in the embodiment shown here and comprises a cardan-like, movable sleeve to hold a handle 40, not shown here.

FIG. 2 shows the wiper cover during its production. FIG. 2a shows a top view onto the sheet-like article 20, following the cutting to length of the material sheet 41. The length 42 and width 22 of the sheet-like article 20 correspond essentially to the length 44 and width 43 of the carrier 3. The fold line 23 is shown as a broken line; it extends, in the longitudinal direction 21, along half the width 22.

FIG. 2b shows the sheet-like article 20, following the first and second process steps, wherein the front sides 24, 25; 26, 27 of half width, which are arranged at right angles to the fold line 23 and lie one atop the other, are sewn together. In the first process step, the sheet-like article 20 is folded, in the embodiment shown here, in such a way that the wiping surface 29 is placed on the inside.

In FIG. 2c, the folded and sewn sheet-like article from FIGS. 2a and 2 b is shown, turned, following the second process step, so that the wiping area 29, which was initially placed on the inside, is now placed on the outside; the seam that joins the adjacent front sides from FIG. 2b is covered by being placed on the inside.

In FIG. 3, the subsequent process step is shown. The fold 28 is unfolded so as to produce a flat wiping area 29, wherein upon unfolding the fold 28, the insertion pockets 8, 9 are automatically formed. Each of the insertion pockets 8, 9 has only one seam 14, 15 for the formation of the insertion pocket 8, 9, wherein the seams 14, 15 extend from their individual front tips 16, 17, perpendicular to their individual base lines 18, 19.

The boundary 30 of the wiper cover 1 is covered along its longitudinal sides by the hem 31. Alternatively or additionally, there is the possibility of covering the seams 14, 15 on the side turned away from the carrier 3 with a protective strip 32, 33 as shown in FIG. 3b.

In FIG. 4, the wiper cover 1 from FIG. 3 is shown in a view from below. The wiping area 29 has a profiling in the form of strips extending in the longitudinal direction 21, which are formed by a higher, particularly absorbent pile.

In FIG. 5, the wiper 2 is shown in a ready-to-use state. The carrier 3 is connected to a handle 40 and arranged in the triangular insertion pockets 8, 9. The front sides 6, 7 and the insertion pockets 8, 9 are congruently shaped, wherein the imaginary prolongations of the side lines 10, 11; 12, 13 of the front sides 6, 7 and the insertion pockets 8, 9 are arranged intersecting angularly and essentially at right angles to one another. The side lines 10, 11; 12, 13 of the front sides 6, 7 and the insertion pockets 8, 9 can also limit one another directly. The insertion pockets 8, 9 are formed by the wiper cover 1 itself and are integrally formed with it of the same material. 

1. A method for the production of a wiper cover for a wiper, comprising a carrier and the wiper cover, at least partially enclosing the carrier, wherein the carrier has triangular front sides, pointing away from one another in the form of arrows, on two opposing sides, which are arranged in congruently shaped, triangular insertion pockets of the wiper cover during use of the wiper, wherein the imaginary prolongations of the side lines of the front sides and the insertion pockets are arranged, intersecting angularly and essentially at right angles to one another, wherein the insertion pockets are formed by the wiper cover itself and are integrally formed with it of the same material, and wherein each of the insertion pockets has only one seam for the formation of the insertion pockets, which extends from their individual front tip, perpendicular to their individual base line, wherein in a first process step, a rectangular sheet-like article, corresponding essentially to the width and length of the carrier, is folded over in the longitudinal direction, along its half width, wherein in a second process step, the front sides of half width, which are arranged at right angles to the fold line and one atop the other, are joined at the end by a seam running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein, in another process step, the fold is again unfolded, so as to produce a wiping area, and wherein upon unfolding the fold, the insertion pockets form automatically.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the front sides are sewed, cemented, or welded together in a second process step.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like article is folded, in the first process step, in such a way that the wiping area of the wiper cover is located on the outside.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like article is folded, in the first step, in such a way that the wiping area is placed on the inside.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein following the second process step, the wiping area is turned from the inside to the outside.
 6. A wiper, comprising a carrier and a wiper cover, enclosing the carrier, at least partially, wherein the carrier has triangular front sides, pointing away from one another in the form of arrows, on opposing sides, which are arranged during the use of the wiper in congruently shaped, triangular insertion pockets of the wiper cover, wherein the imaginary prolongations of the side lines of the front sides and the insertion pockets, are arranged intersecting angularly and essentially at right angles, wherein the insertion pockets are formed by the wiper cover itself and are integrally formed with it of the same material, and wherein each of the insertion pockets has only one seam for the formation of the insertion pockets, which extends from their individual front tip, perpendicular to their individual base line.
 7. The wiper according to claim 6, wherein the boundary of the wiper cover is covered, at least partially, by a hem.
 8. The wiper according to claim 6, wherein the seams are covered by a protective strip, on the side turned away from the carrier.
 9. The wiper according to claim 6, wherein the carrier is shaped as a wiper frame and comprises two clamping wings, which are locked during use and in that at least one of the clamping wings can be folded for the installation/removal of the wiper cover. 